Counterbalance lift truck Training
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration or OSHA require that anybody utilizing a counterbalanced forklift be given lecture style or classroom training. They additionally require that a supervised driving program is completed along with periodic refresher training. There is no required minimum time for the supervised driving or classroom training. Furthermore, there is no frequency mandated for the refresher training either.
Counterbalanced Forklifts
A counterbalanced forklift balances its load with the weight of the truck. The forks on a lift truck are in a fixed position; they go down and up and do not turn. The forks run parallel to the body of the forklift. OSHA require that drivers who would be using counterbalanced forklifts on the job be trained on the trucks while being in the environment which they would be utilizing them.
Classroom Training
Classroom training or lecture style training provides information about the truck that the driver will be using. This training includes aspects like weight and load capacity, height, how to charge or fuel the lift truck. It includes how to gauge the time on the engine along with any lift truck specific safety information like for example where to stand when walking around the truck. Either oral and/or written testing is part of the classroom training. There is no required minimum time for the training.
Supervised Driving
The lift truck driver needs to learn how to utilize the counterbalanced forklift while being supervised. The supervised driving has to take place in an area which reflects the environment the operator would be driving in. This atmosphere should include the kind of terrain she would be traveling on, have the same vehicle and pedestrian traffic close by, and similar surrounding structures close by as well. There is no specific minimum number of hours the operator has to drive while being supervised.